Check out chicks under threat?

[village_person]

New smart label, or chipless RFID tag, set to kill off the barcode

Imagine filling up your trolley with groceries and rolling out the door. No queues or checkouts.

This could be the reality - and completely legal - with Australian researchers developing a "smart label" they hope will supersede the barcode and revolutionise retailing.

Associate Professor Nemai Karmakar from Monash University has created a new generation of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that, until now, could not work on products with metal or water.

A trial by Coles in 2006 failed because liquids and metals interfered with the signals. He hopes the superior tags will renew the supermarket's interest in the technology.

He says shoppers will place tagged bread, milk and tinned fruit into trolleys with electronic readers and be instantly flashed data such as expiry dates, shipping histories and total price.

"Customers will have a fantastic experience. The RFID tags can hold huge amounts of information," he says. "If you have credit card details on your mobile phone, you can pay as you walk out. Technology now makes this possible."

Chipless RFID tags attached to a can of Coke and a bottle of water. Photo: Dr Nemai Karmakar

The conventional sort, dubbed by enthusiasts as a "barcode on steroids", has long been used in e-passports, library management systems, and e-tag systems on motorways.

Dr Karmakar is convinced his chipless RFID tag will eventually kill off barcodes, saying it is cheaper, smaller and faster than other tracking systems, including the read-only barcode.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-smart-label-or-chipless-rfid-tag-set-to-kill-off-the-barcode-20150501-...

I'm allergic to self-serve so I hope those beautiful check out chicks will remain a part of the shopping experience. However, just as we have come up with a cheap and nasty replacement for Professors I suppose we can't be Canutes and halt progress. By a cheap and nasty replacement for well-educated Professors I of course refer to alleged Professor Tim Flannery.

[lal-au0]

all you need is a jammer to interfere with their signals and you can shop for free.

i hate self serves. they destroy jobs and the people using them don't even realise that they are unpaid check out chicks.

[aussiebargains_2011]

Hate self serves, will not use them!!!!!!

[myoclon1cjerk]

Now,now,think how that could benefit the shareholders if they can ditch those pesky employees.Shame on you.

[j*oono]

I love the self serve check outs.  The Coles closest to me has them and it's quick and easy to get in and out of the shop when you only want a small number of things.

Meanwhile, the check out operators are working flat out with trolley loaded shoppers all day.  If I see an operator available when I only have a couple of things then I will use their check out.  Otherwise it's self serve.

I don't know about this new idea.  Technology happens wether we like it or not.  So many jobs now just aren't going to exist in 20 years or less.

Progress is currently ruining my street.

[the_hawk*]

I wont use it as I dont use self serve, I dont use a credit card and wont have bank details on my mobile.

the good old days of when you lost your wallet all you lose was the actual money in it, now they can clean you out before you even know you have lost your wallet or PH.